บท 5: Chapter 5 - A Head.

"Aaahhhh!!!'

Followed by Prince Ya's terrified scream, a bloody ellipsoid object wrapped in brown fabric rolled out from the black box, and a few strains of long hair can be seen dropping out from the loosened fabric wrap.

"Ah! Father! Is that a head?" Zi Wei exclaimed as he tried to approach that bloody box on the floor but was immediately stopped by his father.

"Back off! Don't you dare to get your hands on that thing!" Prince Ya shouted at his son.

"But father..."

"Get out! And go back to your own house! Don't come over until I told you so!" Prince Ya exclaimed, chasing Zi Wei out of the room

Despite being rather curious and concerned about what just happened, Zi Wei retracted just as commanded by his father and walked out of the room after briefly bowing to his father.

"Your Highness... This..."

"Wu Qi... Open the wrap," said Prince Ya in a slightly shaky voice but at the same time trying his best to maintain his composure.

"Yes, My Lord." said the retainer.

Then, under his lord's command, Wu Qi, the retainer slowly approached that ellipsoid object and carefully picked it up. While holding his breath, Wu Qi slowly opened the bloody fabric wrapper showing the content to Prince Ya. Just as expected, it is a severed human head, or more accurately, it's a woman's head. After taking a clear look at that severed head, Prince Ya slumped over his chair with a frightened look, he recognised that head so well, it belonged to a skilled female assassin Prince Ya sent to that Kingdom as a spy a few weeks ago...

***

Ben's farmhouse...

"But it really amazed me that you are able to keep her body fresh for such a long period," said the King as he casually took a sip of his oolong tea.

"Or rather, she was not fully dead yet when you snapped her neck, all I need to do is to keep her body alive," said Ben who slightly adjusted his glasses.

"Well, that's not any easier either... Anyway... So... You have told Rei everything, right?" The King asked, out of the blue.

"Partially. Did she mention anything to you regarding that?" Ben asked.

"No. I merely noticed through that subtle changes in the way she looked at me." said the King.

"I see..."

"Mmm... You did the right thing... She does have the right to know what she needs to know after all." said the King.

"Hah... Anyway, since you have brought this topic up, I might as well let you know the results of my recent research," said Ben as he once again opened his working trunk and pulled out a whole stack of papers.

"Research?" The King is curious about what Ben just told him.

"Yes, a continuous research regarding that contamination on Rei's soul," said Ben as he placed that stack of paper in front of the King.

"Ah... I see..."

Said so, the King reached his hand to that stack of papers in hesitant, uncertain if he would want to read the content of the stack of research reports or not.

"Don't worry, I believe it's a piece of good news for you." said the doctor who somewhat gave the King a subtle smile.

Hearing those words from Ben, the King looked at him with a slightly doubtful look as he landed his hand on that stack of papers and started flipping through it. As the King carefully read through that whole stack of reports, subtle changes in his facial expression can be seen, from the originally slightly doubtful look to a slightly surprised yet confused look and finally an expression of disbelief.

"Done reading?" Ben asked.

"Yeah..."

"Don't you have anything to ask me regarding those results and conclusions?" Ben asked, in a slightly demanding tone.

"Well... Tsk... I am not very interested to know how you ended up getting these results but... Are you serious about these findings?" The King asked, in a total disbelief that mixed with a dash of awkwardness.

"Mhmm."

Along with that response, Ben awkwardly nodded.

"Ah... I... I see..." said the King who sounds even more awkward.

"Haha... Well, at least on the good side, you don't have to keep a distance from her anymore," said Ben as he let out an awkward laugh.

"Ha... Haha..."

And the King laughed awkwardly as well along with Ben.

***

After the King read the research reports given by Ben, Ben told the King everything he needed to know regarding their current situation.

According to Ben, they are now temporarily stuck in the Qin Empire as the Emperor declared a two-month lockdown of the Imperial City. The decree of the Emperor mentioned that due to the coming 'Fire Dragon Festival', the whole Imperial City needed to be locked down for the purposes of religious rituals that would ensure the prosperity of the city for the next whole year. However, in Ben's opinion, all those festivals and rituals thingy are nothing but some nicely timed excuses. In Ben's opinion, that lockdown is most likely due to the sudden disappearance of Commandery Prince Shao and his whole squad. And Ben knows the truth behind that whole incident so well that he would not want to take any possible risk.

And so...

"And so, we are going to stay here for the next two months," said Ben as he took a sip of his nice cup of oolong tea.

"Ah... Doesn't sound like the best plan, but I guess that's what will work for now." said the King as he shrugged.

"Or perhaps, you are having a better plan?" Ben asked as he put down his teacup and looked at the King with a subtle expression.

"Nope. Don't feel like thinking anything too complicated at this moment."

Said so, the King laid down and tucked himself back into his blanket.

"Well, I guess that makes two of us... Now scoot over," said Ben as he took off his glasses.

"Tsk..."

With that 'tsk' the King moved his body to the side for a bit, opening an empty space for Ben on his bed, and with no hesitation, Ben laid down by the King's side...